Disk talking machine



- Aug. 12, 1924., I

H. L. T. BUCKLE DISK 'mmma I'GACEIXE-f- Filed Feb.

of a circle, the

Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

HORACE LEOIE'OLD TUCKER BUCKLE, OF YIEWSLEY, ENGLAND.

nIsK TALKING MACHINE.

Application filed February 23, 1924, Serial No. 694:,718.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE LEOPOLD TUCKER BUCKLE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Yiewsley, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Disk Talking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in diaphragm carrying means for disk tallp ing machines, and in particular to means for carrying a large diaphragm, which, during playing, lies substantially parallel with the record and travels over the record in the arc diaphragm being adapted to he tilted up, away from the record, to allow the record to be changed and a new needle to be inserted.

In known constructions for this purpose it has been. proposed to mount a large diaphragm lying substantially parallel with the record rigidly on an arm which is mounted tc'turn about an axis parallel with the turntahleaxis, and is also hinged so that diaphragm and arm can be moved together away from the record.

It has also been proposed to use a horizontally swinging member adapted to turn about a fixed vertical axis, and on this memher was pivoted, to swing vertically, a diaphragm carrying member in the form of a yoke, between the arms of which the dia phragm was mounted so as to be capable of oscillating about a horizontal axis. The vertically swinging member could be raised with the diaphragm, so that the latter could be lifted up away from the record to enable the record or needle to be changed.

Ithas been found that with known constructions of carrying means for these large diaphragms there-is a certain liability to chattering or vibration in the bearings un: less the parts oithe mounting are so made that they are sufiiciently rigid to resist vibration and to the pivot pins and other parts.

' Among other'objects oi the present invention are, in a diaphragm carrying means of the type specified, to remove the above objections, to provide a more compact arrangement than hitherto known, and a simpler and stronger construction, and to provide for the delicate adjustment of the weight with which the reproducing point bears on the record. v

Further, the diaphragm. is at all times allow of a rigid mounting of carried so that it can be handled and moved from one position to another more safely than before, and is less likely to fall and be damaged.

According to the present invention the vertically swinging member, instead of havm phiagm, is in the form of a plate or, for lightness, a rigid frame, between two lugs on which the diaphragm is pivoted. order that the plate or frame may not interstore with the sound waves coming from the top of the diaphragm, the latter is preferab y mounted above the plate. The movement of the diaphragm on the vertically swinging plate is alimited one and there is prefera ly an adjustable spring tension between the two, so that the pressure of the needle on the record can be regulated.

An adjustable stop is provided to determine the extent to which the vertically swinging member can drop with regard to the horizontally swinging member.

The invention is preferably, but not ,necessarily, employed with a talking machine in Which bothturntable and diaphragm are sloped downwards from the front towards the back of the machine, so that an upwardiy and forwardly inclined line of vision between the diaphragm and turntable is at forded and the correct insertion of the needle in the sornd line is facilitated in the operation of the machine from the front of the cabinet cover is mounted at the back of the cabinet and is adapted in raised position to deflect the sound waves which are directed rearwardly and upwardly against it by virtue of the inclined position of the diaphragm, and to throw them forwardly across the top of the cabinet to the front of the machine. In such a machine the axis about which the diaphragm carrier swings in traversing the record is tilted back and lies parallel with the turntable spindle and the diaphragm. carrier consequently has a tendency to fall by gravity the form of a yoke embracing the diato one side or the other as the needle trav-. i erses the record, and this is counteracted by the lowered or playing position. Fig. 2

is a front elevation, partly in section, with the diaphragm and carrying means the raised position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the fixture and the member of the diaphragm carrier mounted therein. Fig. 4 is a similar View partly in section. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the portion of the frame carrying the spring tension device and the corresponding end of the cross bar in juxtaposition. Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in section. showing the spring tension device. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the clamp thereof. And Fig. 8 is a 'detail view in side elevation showing the end of the cross bar remote from the spring tension device, and the corresponding portion of the framein juxtaposition. v

Upon the top or motor board 1 ad]acent the open upper end of the cabinet of the machine is mounted a rigid fixture 2 to'provide a bearing in which there can turn, about an axis parallel with the turntable spindle.

a swinging member 3 of the diaphragm carrier. The fixture 2 comprises a base portion adapted to-be screwed. down on the motor board, a lower fixed pivot 4 and an upper adjustable pivot 5 aligned therewith. There is a substantial distance between the upper and lower pivots to give a wide firm bearing for the swinging member 3 which is mounted between them. The member 3 is a rigid body, such for example as a casting and of a suitable shape for carrying at its free end pivot pins 6 in lugs 6 for the vertically swinging memberdescribed below. The bearings G can lie-rigidly and accurately set, and have no tendency to springing or vibration. The free endof the member 3 is approximately in lino with its lower pivot 4 and swings over the motorboard 1, just clearing it. On either side of the swinging member 3 at the pivoted endare lugs 8 which strike against stops 9 formed on the fixture 2, thus limiting-therotation of the member in either direction.

The vertically swinging mounted on 'the pins 6 may also be a casting and is in the form of a substantially wedge shaped or trapezoid frame,.the narrow end of the frame being mounted by means of down turned lugs 11 on the horizontal pivots 6. while the wider end has at each side upturned lugs 12 to form a bearing for the. diaphragm 13 to turn abouta horizontal axis; The hollow frame formation of thismcmber 10 affords a rigid and strong but not too heavy construction in which the diaphragm can be mounted to have a limited rocking movement.

The downward movement ol this member. 10 in regard to the'swinging member 3 is limited bya stop 14 in the form of a set screw carried in a depending lug 15. which in the lowest position of the frame 10 rests against in front of the pivots tends to drop and weightwith which the needle rests on the.

member 10' tall forwards and be damaged.

pass pivot pins 24 fixed in the uptrrned ends 12 of the member 10, the diaphragm .13 rocking freely on these pins. The inphragm being pivoted between its ce itre and rear edge, the part of the diaph agzn record is regulated by means of a spring device 25 (Fig. 5).- Around the outer end of one of the pins 24 on which the diaphragm pivots and secured thereto is a coil spring 25 the other end of which is fixed to a barrel 26 capable of being turned on the pin by the knurled head 27 to any desired extent so as to determine the tension of the spring, and the barrel can then be fixed in a given position by a clamp member 28 which by means of an arm 28 engages with a pin 21 extending from the bar 21 on the diaphragm spider. The pin 24 is held against rotation in the member" 10 by means of a set screw 29. The spring therefore acts between the vertically moving member (through thepivot pin fixed therein) and the} diaphragm and tends to lift'the weight of the diaphragm oil" the record; The sprin also tends to counteract any liability there may be of the diaphragm spider and bar rattling or chattering in its bearings.

The rocking movement of the diaphragm 13 iii-the member 10 is restricted by a pin' 30 mounted'in a lug 31 on the member 10 passing through a slot 32 in the end 22 of the bar 21 on the spider. i

When the needle is lifted oil therecord the diaphragm turns back a small distance in the vertically moving member 10. which is then itself swung upwardly and rearwa-rdly with the 'diaphragm until its back stop 1? rests on the free end of the member 3. As-soon as the member 10 has been raised a certain distance the spring deviceabove described causes the back of the diaphragm 13 to swing down towards the rear or pivoted end of the member 10, and when turned right back the diaphragm is not liable to hen in playing position the pivot between the member 3 and, the vertically moving member 10 is approximately beneath .the rear edge of the diaphragm. I

.It will be seen that the whole of the vert eally moving member 10 beneath the diaphragm and housed between it and the turnand consequent injury.

When the invention is applied as in the construction illustrated to a talking machine in which the turntable slopes down towards the back of the machine, and the axis about which the member 3 turns is also sloped backwards, to compensate for the tendency of the member 3 tofall sideways owing to gravity, there is provided between the rear of the member 3 "and the fixture 2 in which it is pivoted a balancing spring device consisting of a small plunger 33 mounted in the fixture 2, having a rounded outer end, and pushed outwards by means of a spring 34 against. a face on the rear end of the member 3. The rocking of the member 3 to either side causes this face to compress slightly the spring behind the plunger and the action of gravity upon the member 3 is thereby counteracted.

It will be understood that when the ver tically' moving member 10 with the diaphragm 13 is turned right back it is desirable that the parts in this position should not be able to be turned far about the vertical axis and this is prevented action between the parts 8 and 9.

By having the diaphragm in its playing position, the turntable and the motor board all arranged in substantially inclined planes sloping downwardly from the front of the cabinet toward the rear thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a convenient line of vision is afforded an operator standing in front of the machine. This line of vision extends between the diaphragm and turntable and forwardly and upwardlyin an inclined direction through the open upper end of the cabinet and to a point above and in front of the machine, so that the needle is in clegr to t e connection, phragm, whereby it may swing upwardly and rearwardly away from the turntable, also increases the visibility of the needle from the front of the machine and renders it possible to lower the diaphragm to operative position with respect to a record upon the turntable with great accuracy. It will be noted that the forward portion of the diaphragm projects upwardly through and above the upper end of the cabinet so that it may be conveniently grasped to further facilitate the movement and setting of the y the stop diaphragm in the operation of the machine. 'By, virtue of its inclined arrangement, the diaphragm in operation directs the sound waves upwardly and rearwardly against the cover hinged to the rear of the cabinet and adapted in raised position 'to deflect the sound waves forwardly across the top of the cabinet to the front of the machine, so that the operator standing there will receive the reproduction in full volume.

I claim:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a turn-table, a diaphragm normally. arranged in a plane substantially parallel thereto and provided on its under side with a rigid'spider frame, and means supporting said diaphragm and including a rigid frame adapted to extend over the turn-table and pivoted to swing toward and away from the same, said last mentioned frame extending under the diaphragm and being pivotally connected beneath the same to the spider frame thereof, whereby to house the supporting frame between the diaphragm and the turn-table.

2. In a talking machine, the combination of a turntable, a diaphragm normally disposed in a plane parallel to said turntable, means supporting said diaphragm and having a pivot connection therewith, a sleeve adjustably mounted on the pivot, a spring between said pivot and sleeve and engaged therewith, respectively, and means having connection with the supporting means to lock the sleeve.

3. In a talking machine, the combination of a turntable, a diaphragm, normally disposed in a plane parallel to said turntable, means supporting said diaphragm and having a pivot connection therewith, a sleeve mounted on the pivot, a spring between said pivot and sleeve and engaged therewith, respectively, and means to fasten the sleeve comprising a clamp surrounding the sleeve and having an arm connected with the diaphragm supporting means.

- 4. In a talking machine, the combination of a cabinet having an inclined top sloping downwardly from front to rear and a cover hinged to the rear of the cabinet and adapted to close over the top, a turn-table mounted on said top in an inclined plane substantially parallel thereto, a diaphragm normally arranged above and in a plane substantially parallel to the turn-table, and means for supporting the diaphragm, said cover acting in raised position as a deflector for the sound.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

, HORACE LEOPOLD TUCKER BUCKLE.

Zertiiicate of Correction.

II N hm'vhy wrtifiwl lhnt in Twin-1's Patent No. 1,505,073, granted August 12, 19%, upon the application of Horace Leopold Tucker Buckle, of Yicwshey, England. UM; Talking Machines-t, errors :ippcar in the pi'intml specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 90, after tho word cabinet insert a puriod and the article A; page 3, strike out linvs 109 to 120, comprising claim 4; and that the said Letters Patent, should he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the recon Patent Oflicc.

Signed and scaled this 28th day of October, A. D. 1924.

KARL FENNING, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[HEAL] l of the case in the 

